Description

This Meat Lovers Pizza Casserole is the ultimate comfort dish for meat enthusiasts, combining ground beef, pork sausage, pepperoni, and a rich tomato basil sauce layered with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Topped with pizza crust and baked to golden perfection, it’s a hearty, flavorful twist on classic pizza delivered in an easy-to-make casserole format, perfect for family dinners or gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat Mixture

1 lb lean ground beef
1 lb pork sausage
1 cup chopped pepperoni
¼ cup all-purpose flour
4 tsp Italian seasoning, divided
1 (26-oz) jar tomato basil pasta sauce

Cheese

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
3 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

Crust and Topping

1 (13.8-oz) can refrigerated pizza crust dough
1 Tbsp olive oil

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Instructions

Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 425ºF (220ºC) and lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
Cook the Meat: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and pork sausage until browned and no longer pink. Drain excess fat to keep the casserole from becoming greasy.
Combine Meat with Seasonings and Sauce: Add the chopped pepperoni, flour, and 3 teaspoons of Italian seasoning to the skillet. Stir the mixture thoroughly to blend ingredients and help thicken the sauce. Then pour in the tomato basil pasta sauce and bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, remove from heat.
Assemble the Casserole: Spoon the meat and sauce mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the meat layer.
Add Pizza Crust and Toppings: Unroll the refrigerated pizza crust dough and carefully place it over the mozzarella cheese layer, covering completely. Brush the crust with olive oil, then sprinkle with the remaining 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, additional mozzarella cheese if desired, and 3 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese for a savory finish.
Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the pizza crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.

Notes

For a crisper crust, you can pre-bake the pizza dough for 5 minutes before adding the toppings.
Feel free to add extra vegetables like bell peppers or mushrooms into the meat sauce for added nutrition and flavor.
Use lean meats to reduce fat content and make the dish lighter.
Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes after baking to allow it to set, making it easier to slice and serve.
You can substitute refrigerated pizza crust dough with homemade dough if preferred.
If you want a spicier casserole, add crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce mixture.